Title

VANITY.

Author

Author not identified

Source

[Not applicable]

Type

About the work

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

Vanity.

Nude female figure, toying with pearls and admiring her reflection, standing on a pile of books, etc., in centre; in foreground an ape playing with a string of pearls; in background an old philosopher studying an egg from which a chicken is emerging. Should become one of the most popular of Mr van Raalte’s etchings. Follows the artist’s explanation of the work. The woman ignores even her own beauty, as well as the pile of attainments, and concentrates on ornament. The man in his admirable conceit that he is adding to the pile, which is a very mixed conglomeration, continues his (now) useful study — of the egg-life — which has and always will have him, beaten. Still, he adds to the pile!” plate:- “The humans, who represent that good conceit that makes men continue effort, and the bad conceit of effeminate low taste, are separated—raised—from their primitive ancestor by the pile of human attainments.

© Australianprints